Re: EE's needed for washer problem

[Luis Marques <marques@ti.com>]

I know I'm a little late, but you have a dirty wiper washer switch. 
BTDT.  The switch tests fine by itself and the pump tests fine by
itsef.  But when you put them together, nothing happens.

What you are ignoring is the current flow thru the switch.  If you check
the voltage at the washer pump (while connected), you'll find that very
little of the 12 volts you saw at the plug when it was disconnected
actually make it to the pump in operation.  The rest of the voltage is
dropped at the dirty/resistive switch contacts.

Semi-easy fix.  You have to remove the steering wheel and somehow clean
the contacts of the old switch whitout disasemblying it (perhaps using
electrical contact cleaner spray), or replace it with a new one.

HTH

Luis Marques (MSEE)
'87 4kcsq


> From: "Matthew Brenengen" <qcar@hotmail.com>
> 
> Today, I have had time to tackle some of the minor problems, namely
> the inoperable windshield washer pump.  It is very strange.  I have
> 12v where the plug goes into the pump when I pull back the windshield
> wiper stalk; if I run 12v direct from my battery to the the pump, the
> pump whirs happily.  Yet when I plug it in and pull the stalk back,
> nothing will happen.  The windshield wipers do not even go back and
> forth.  When I unplug the pump and pull the stalk back, the wipers go
> just fine.  
> 
> So why am I having this problem only when the pump is plugged in? 
> BTW, I tried the pump from my QSW with the same results.  
> 
> I appreciate any input.  
> 
> Matthew
> '87 4kq; 88 QSW